Prize pets can win Crufts date at Great North Dog Walk

Scruffts, a competition that gives crossbreed canines the chance to compete in the prestigious main arena at Crufts, is calling for pooches to put their best paw forward at the charity extravaganza on June 5.

Dogs will be put through their paces during highly-anticipated heats held at the 26th annual walk, in The Leas, South Shields, in the hope of making it through to the semi-finals held in London in October.

The six top dogs will then qualify for the showpiece Crufts event next year.

Each dog entered in the competition will have a few precious minutes to wow the judges in one or more of the six competition categories - including most handsome and child’s best friend.

Caroline Kisko, Secretary of the Kennel Club, which organises the competition, said: “Scruffts is a fantastic competition celebrating the love, companionship and often heroic stories of our nation’s crossbreed dogs. These heats also raise money for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which makes a difference for dogs by funding a wide variety of work ranging from supporting research into canine diseases to welfare initiatives.

Registration for the competition starts from 9am and the competition judging begins at 12.30pm. Entering a dog into Scruffts costs £2 per class and all entry money will be split between the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and the Cash4Kids.

For entry criteria for each class, visit www.scruffts.org.uk.